Matthäus highlights Nagelsmann's mistakes during Germany tenure

DPASun, Jul 5, 2026·2 min read

Germany great Lothar Matthäus sharply criticized former national team coach Julian Nagelsmann and highlighted the mistakes he made along the way.

In a column for the Bild newspaper published on Saturday, the 1990 World Cup champion said that the entire project was a "resounding failure" and that the team had "no leadership on the field, no quality of play, no solid defence, and no teamwork. It was nothing but chaos."

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Nagelsmann made "too many mistakes" with the line-up, with the tactics, "and even with the squad selection for this World Cup. He had no plan B, he stubbornly stuck to his approach.

"He apparently ignored well-meaning advice from outside the team (which is understandable and acceptable), but unfortunately also from within. And his coaching staff consisted only of yes-men who never challenged him."

Matthäus sees a particular issue with Nagelsmann's communication style.

"Preferring messages on WhatsApp to face-to-face conversations? That's actually unthinkable for a leader," he criticized.

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Nagelsmann resigned after the elimination from the World Cup in a shocking 4-3 defeat on penalties to Paraguay in the round of 32. Former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp is expected to take the job.

"With Klopp as national team coach, a new wind would blow through German football," Matthäus said.

Matthäus also added that Nagelsmann is not the only one to blame for the World Cup debacle.

"Those in charge at the DFB (German Football Federation) also made some mistakes. They stood by and watched for too long, always convinced that Nagelsmann is a good coach - which, from a purely technical standpoint, he certainly is - and hoping that things would work out," he wrote.

"Yet the issues had been evident for quite some time. Despite that, his contract was extended through 2028. For no good reason!"